Kerala HC tells govt. to file detailed statement on parole power

Kochi, Aug 9 (UNI) The Kerala high court today granted time to the state government to file a detailed statement regarding the power of the home minister and state government in granting parole to convicts.

A division bench comprising Justice J B Koshy and Justice K Padmanabhan Nair prima facie observed that the provision in Kerala Prison Rules, which empower the home minister to grant parole, is beyond the legislative competence of the government.

The bench said that there was no provision in the Prisons Act enabling the state government or minister to exercise such a power.

The bench further directed the government to produce the files relating to the grant of parole to a life convict and CPM worker Pius, a native of Vaduthala in Ernakulam.

The bench directed that the judgement of the court convicting him, number of days he had undergone imprisonment, number of days he was on parole, emergency leave, study leave etc should be furnished before the court on September 20.

UNI XR ARC1835